Majority Of Ghanaians Research Articles

Analyzing the Significance of Indigenous Hats in Ghanaian Culture

Hats are highly noticeable accessories because they immediately capture the observer’s attention towards the face. The purpose of this study was to analyse the significance of hat in Ghanaian culture. The majority of Ghanaians are unaware of the history of the Ghanaian hat, and the fashion industry pays little attention to the indigenous hat, disregarding Ghanaian culture. The method adopted for the study was a mixed-method approach where both interviews and questionnaires were used for gathering information for the study. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling. The study had as its population all regular undergraduate students at Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills, Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Kumasi and covered all students with a sample size of 109 students. The method used for gathering information for the study was interview and a questionnaire. The research found that the Dagomba mostly wear hat to depict their culture. It was also revealed that, unlike the Dagombas, the Ashantis and the Gas are of the view that, wearing the hat is purposely for complementing one’s clothing. The study concluded that, the Dagomba, the Ashantis and the Gas all depict their culture of hats in variety of ways.

Breast cancer screening pathways in Ghana: applying an exploratory single case study methodology with cross-case analysis

BackgroundBreast cancer is steadily increasing in Ghana, with the majority of Ghanaians only seeking care in the advanced stage of the disease. Furthermore, structured breast cancer control strategies are mostly non-existent. This study aimed to examine breast cancer and breast screening pathways in a tertiary healthcare facility within the Kumasi metropolis. MethodWe used a single exploratory case-study design to purposefully select one healthcare facility as a case with embedded sub-units of analysis (patients, first-degree relatives of patients, and clinicians) to address the study's aim. In-depth interview was used to generate evidence from 35 participants. Applying Miles and Huberman's thematic strategy, a cross-case analysis was conducted using Morse's analytical framework. ResultsFive (5) main themes emerged from the data: description of breast cancer, breast health education in Ghana, breast screening practices among women, the state of breast screening and barriers to breast screening uptake and lastly, the way forward. Malignancy of the breast was described as common, especially among young women who commonly present with advanced disease with poor prognostic outcomes. There were reports of limited breast cancer awareness and knowledge among women. Comparatively, urban educated women were noted to be relatively knowledgeable and more proactive about breast cancer than the less-privileged women in rural communities. Self and clinical-breast examination practices were reported as unusual habits for Ghanaian women. Several provider-related factors, lack of screening facilities, and attitude of women were highlighted as barriers to breast screening practices. Education among health professionals and interventions to promote opportunistic and organized breast screening were cited as the way forward for breast cancer control and early detection in Ghana. ConclusionThis is a confirmatory result of a stark burden of breast cancer in Ghana, inferring a need to address the deficiencies around breast cancer and early detection practices.

Do you want to be told if you have cancer? A cross-sectional survey of Ghanaians

Background Not much is known about the information preferences of individuals at risk for cancer in sub-Saharan Africa. Clinicians exercise great autonomy in how, when, and to whom they disclose patients’ medical diagnosis and prognostic status. We sought to investigate the information preferences with regards to cancer diagnosis and prognosis of a cross-section of Ghanaians living in and outside of Ghana. Methods We surveyed a general population of Ghanaians aged ≥ 18 years old, living in and outside of Ghana about their cancer information preferences. Survey questions were developed using Qualtrics software and deployed via WhatsApp mobile app. After initial pilot to assess for feasibility and cultural relevance, initial links were distributed through social and medical contacts who were then asked to share widely with their social contacts. Participant characteristics were reviewed and their association with cancer information needs evaluated with logistic regression analysis. Results Of the four hundred and twenty-six participants who responded to the survey, 33.1% were female. Majority of respondents (81.9%) were living in Ghana at time of survey. Four hundred and twelve (96.7%) patients would like to know from their provider if they were diagnosed with cancer. The most common information need of participants was treatability/curability (92%) of the cancer. A worry about impact of cancer on family was the most common reason for not wanting any information. Univariate analysis did not identify any factors associated with reduced cancer information needs. Conclusions The overwhelming majority of Ghanaians surveyed would like to know if they were diagnosed with cancer. It is imperative that clinicians tell Ghanaians about their cancer diagnosis and share all pertinent information with them.

Malakoi (Effeminates) and Avrsenokoitai (Homosexuals): A Reflection on 1 Corinthians 6:9 from a Ghanaian (Akan) Perspective

Homosexuality and the rights of LGBTQ+ people have in recent times become one of the most discussed topics. In Ghana especially, there are massive debates, comments and advocacy of various kinds on the print, mass and electronic media on the subject. Politicians, religious leaders, among others have had to add their voice to the ongoing discussion as to whether or not to accept homosexuality. It appears the majority of Ghanaians are anti-gay and believe that the activities of homosexuals or LGBTQ+ people are unnatural and foreign to Ghanaian primal thought and thus are calling for proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values. This paper examines Paul’s use of malakoi (effeminates) and avrsenokoi/tai (homosexuals) in 1 Corinthians 6:9 from the perspective of the Ghanaian (Akan) culture. The researcher brings out Paul’s understanding and theology of malakoi and avrsenokoi/tai, and then engages these with the Akan understanding of homosexuality. This way, the Akan culture is factored into the interpretation of the selected Pauline passage as it forms the basis of the researcher’s theological reflection on the subject under discussion among the Akan. The researcher uses Kwame Bediako’s “scripture as the hermeneutic of culture and tradition” as an interpretive tool, to interpret the Akan philosophy on homosexuality and how that compares to Paul’s concept of homosexuality. This study serves as a contribution to knowledge as it brings new insights to the ongoing discussion throughout the world regarding the understanding of human sexuality especially from cultural and biblical perspectives. KEYWORDS: Effeminates, homosexuals, homosexuality, unrighteous, hermeneutic, culture.

Safaliba community language awareness: ‘Safale̱ba—a dage̱ya ka o̱ bebee!*’ * ‘Safaliba—it is important for it to exist!’

Safaliba is an Indigenous Ghanaian language spoken by 7–9,000 Ghanaians in a nation-state of 29 million people with 73 indigenous languages, none of which are spoken by a majority of Ghanaians. Government schools in Safaliba towns and villages are mandated to utilize Gonja and English instructional reading materials from the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education. Gonja is nothing like Safaliba from a morphosyntactic and semantic point of view, making it difficult for most young Safaliba to learn to read. Recent indigenous activist endeavors have disrupted mandates in two Safaliba primary schools in the largest Safaliba town, Mandari, and have begun teaching children to read in Safaliba. The purpose of this paper is to explore Safaliba community awareness of the grassroots moves to school children in Safaliba reading and writing. The study includes ethnographic data from field notes, photographs and 75 interviews with Safaliba subsistence farming families. Findings present a view of community language awareness for Safaliba literacy in the schools as a positive move. Moreover, the study presents a strong, inspiring snapshot of situated community activism in a language struggling for recognition in Ghana’s postcolonial educational language policy.

Poisonous substances used to capture and kill the greater cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus).

The greater cane rat, as it is commonly known, is often called grasscutter (in Ghana, Nigeria and other regions of West Africa). Even though is highly patronized as a delicacy by a majority of Ghanaians (akrantie—Twi language) mostly in the rural areas, the persistent reports on people being poisoned as a result of eating food prepared with grasscutter which has been captured/killed by the use of poison are deterring people from consuming the grasscutter meat despite its high protein content. The objective of this study was, therefore, to investigate the actual ingredients that are used in the formulation of poison to capture grasscutter for human consumption. Questionnaires were administered to participants (farmers) who are involved in grasscutter hunting to solicit the ingredient they formulate to poison the grasscutter in their hunting. To prove the activeness of these ingredients, the main ingredient used in formulating the poison to capture the grasscutters were tested on two male grasscutters and these were yellow oleander root (Cascabela thevetia; syn: Thevetia peruviana) powder and carbofuran. The findings of the experimental trial revealed that the grasscutter that was fed with yellow oleander root powder did not die but showed some signs of intoxication and staggered each time it tried to move. However, the grasscutter fed with carbofuran died within 10 hr of being poisoned. Majority of the participants attested to the fact that the use of poison increases their chance of capturing the grasscutter, especially in the dry season since the poison is not washed away by the rainwater. However, consuming grasscutter poisoned with either yellow oleander root power or carbofuran could be detrimental to human health.

Factors contributing to low uptake and renewal of health insurance: a qualitative study in Ghana.

BackgroundThe effort to expand access to healthcare and reduce health inequalities in many low income countries have meant that many have adopted different levels of social health protection mechanisms. Ghana introduced a National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in 2005 with the aim of removing previous barriers created by the user fees financing system. Although the NHIS has made health accessible to some category of people, the majority of Ghanaians (60 %) are not enroled on the scheme. Earlier studies have looked at various factors that account for this low uptake. However, we recognise that this qualitative study will nuance the depth of these barriers to enrolment.MethodsMinimally structured, qualitative interviews were conducted with key stakeholders at the district, regional and national levels. Focus group discussions were also undertaken at the community level. Using an inductive and content analytic approach, the transcripts were analyzed to identify and define categories that explain low uptake of health insurance.ResultsThe results are presented under two broad themes: sociocultural and systemic factors. Sociocultural factors identified were 1) vulnerability within certain groups such as the aged and the disabled groups which impeded access to the NHIS 2) cultural and religious norms which discouraged enrolment into the scheme. System-wide factors were 1) inadequate distribution of social infrastructure such as healthcare facilities, 2) weak administrative processes within the NHIS, and 3) poor quality of care.ConclusionsMapping the interplay of these dynamic relations between the NHIS, its clients and service providers, the study identifies critical factors at the policy-making level, service provider level, and client level (reflective in household and community level institutional arrangements) that affect enrolment in the scheme. Our findings inform a number of potential reforms in the area of distribution of health resources and cost containment to expand coverage, increase choices and meeting the needs of the end user.

Determinants of News Selection in the Ghanaian Print Media: A Study of the Daily Graphic

This article discusses the criteria that govern the selection of news in the print media (in Ghana). The article focused particularly on the front page news of the Daily Graphic. The study also assesses what informs the choice of certain news items over others and why some news items are presented prominently on the front page over others. Three methods were used in this study: a survey, content analysis and in-depth interviews. Seventy-two editions of the Daily Graphic and in all, 202 news items were content analysed. The study found that although news values are vital in news selectivity, the Daily Graphic does not use news values as the sole criterion for news selection. What is important is whether a particular news story is in the interest of the public and that it has a high range. Thus, the consequence of such a news story affects the majority of Ghanaians. The finding also suggest that news values as criteria for news selection by the media in the West and replicated by African media should be given a second look.

Knowledge and uses of African pangolins as a source of traditional medicine in Ghana.

Traditional medicine has been practised in Ghana for centuries with the majority of Ghanaians still patronising the services of traditional healers. Throughout Africa a large number of people use pangolins as a source of traditional medicine, however, there is a dearth of information on the use of animals in folk medicine in Ghana, in particular the use of pangolins. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalent use of pangolins and the level of knowledge of pangolin use among traditional healers in Ghana for the treatment of human ailments. Data was gathered from 48 traditional healers using semi-structured interviews on the traditional medicinal use of pangolin body parts in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana. The cultural importance index, relative frequency of citation, informant agreement ratio and use agreement values were calculated to ascertain the most culturally important pangolin body part as well as the level of knowledge dissemination among traditional healers with regards pangolin body parts. Our study revealed that 13 body parts of pangolins are used to treat various medicinal ailments. Pangolin scales and bones were the most prevalent prescribed body parts and indicated the highest cultural significance among traditional healing practices primarily for the treatment of spiritual protection, rheumatism, financial rituals and convulsions. Despite being classified under Schedule 1 of Ghana’s Wildlife Conservation Act of 1971 (LI 685), that prohibits anyone from hunting or being in possession of a pangolin, our results indicated that the use of pangolins for traditional medicinal purposes is widespread among traditional healers in Ghana. A study on the population status and ecology of the three species of African pangolins occurring in Ghana is urgently required in order to determine the impact this harvest for traditional medical purposes has on their respective populations as current levels appear to be unmonitored and unsustainable.

Myths and misconceptions about tuberculosis transmission in Ghana

BackgroundMyths and misconceptions about TB can serve as a barrier to efforts at reducing stigmatisation of people infected and affected by the disease. Understanding such drivers of myths and misconceptions is important for improving information, education and communication (IEC) efforts of national control and preventive interventions. This study therefore assesses the influence of interaction of spatial, socioeconomic and demographic characteristics on myths and misconceptions.MethodsData was drawn from male (N = 4,546) and female (N = 4,916) files of the 2008 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey. A myth and misconception variable was created from five-related constructs with internal consistency score of r = 0. 8802 for males (inter-item correlation: 0.5951) and for females, r = 0. 0.9312 (inter-item correlation: 0.7303). The Pearson Chi-square was used to test the bivariate relationship between the independent variables and the dependent variable. Logistic regression was subsequently used to explore the factors determining myths and misconceptions of TB transmission.ResultsMajority of Ghanaians (males: 66.75%; females: 66.13%) did not hold myths and misconceptions about TB transmission. Females resident in the Upper East (aOR = 0.31, CI = 0.17-0.55) and Upper West (aOR = 0.41, CI = 0.24-0.69) and males resident in the Northern (aOR = 0.23, CI = 0.13-0.39) and the Greater Accra (aOR = 0.25, CI = 0.16-0.39) regions were independently associated with no misconceptions about TB transmission. Significant differences were also found in education, ethnicity and age.ConclusionThat spatial and other socioeconomic difference exists in myths and misconceptions suggest the need for spatial, socioeconomic and demographic segmentations in IEC on TB. This holds potentials for reaching out to those who are in critical need of information and education on the transmission processes of TB.

Challenges and Opportunities in Inheritance Rights in Kenya

Customary law governs the majority of Ghanaians’ cases of intestate (no will) inheritance due to customary governance of land and the limited reach of statutory structures.Land in Ghana belongs to lineage groups and therefore cannot be inherited without the approval of customary governance bodies. Policy and practical engagement with customary leaders to ensure protection of the land rights of vulnerable individuals, such as widows without children or very young orphaned children, is critical.Property and inheritance rights of individuals in cohabiting unions without registered marriages are not protected by statutory law in Ghana, which leaves many women’s livelihoods insecure upon a union’s dissolution or death of the male partner.Ghana’s Intestate Succession Act requires revision to reflect current realities. A revised law must set out simple procedures to protect the inheritance rights of women and children.Decentralised access to administrative and judicial services is important to provide basic forms of support and protection for individuals to safeguard their rights, such as birth and marriage registrations, and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

Promoting social development through national reconciliation: the case of Ghana

This article examined the context in which Ghana's National Reconciliation programme was established and its implications for social development. This was a desk research, with data obtained from reports of the international conference and results of public opinion survey of 1000 randomly sampled Ghanaians conducted in 2001 on the national reconciliation exercise. The results are that the majority of Ghanaians supported the establishment and implementation of the national reconciliation policy. Social workers can play an important role in enhancing the implementation of national reconciliation programmes, thereby promoting social development and governments, civil society, non-government organizations and social workers in Africa should work together to achieve the goals of national reconciliation. Key Words: Ghana, reconciliation, social development, social work professionals Jnl of Social Development in Africa Vol.19(1) 2004: 57-74